DAY 1: London - Channel Crossing - Brussels.
Join your tour by travelling on our free coach service from London for your Channel crossing to the Continent. Here you will be met by our representative and transferred by touring coach to Brussels for one night.

DAY 2: Brussels - Trier - Frankfurt area.
Drive south this morning into the Duchy of Luxembourg. Cross the German border and enjoy a stop in ancient Trier before continuing through the splendid scenery of the Moselle Valley. This afternoon, either take a scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or alternatively, relax aboard an optional Rhine cruise for views of the Lorelei Rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. Continue by coach to the Frankfurt area for one night. (B, D)

DAY 3: Frankfurt area - Nuremberg - Salzburg area.
Journey through the heart of Germany to Nuremberg, at one time Germany's most beautiful city and much later famed for the war crime trials which took place in 1945. Drive south this afternoon past Munich and across the Austrian border into the Salzburg area for one night. (B, D)

DAY 4: Salzburg area - Vienna.
A morning to enjoy some optional sightseeing in Salzburg. In the afternoon journey through the Salzkammergut Lakelands of 'Sound of Music' fame, past Mondsee to follow the Danube almost all the way to Vienna, for a two night stay. Reserve some energy for tonight's optional wine village dinner. (B)

DAY 5: Vienna. Included sightseeing.
Start the morning with an included sightseeing tour of Vienna, with a local guide. You will see the State Opera, Hofburg, Parliament and the Town Hall and take a short walk for an inside visit of St Stephen's Cathedral. In the afternoon take the optional trip to visit Schönbrunn Palace, one of the Habsburg summer residences. (B)

DAY 6: Vienna - Lake Balaton - Budapest.
East today into Hungary through the historic city of Györ. Next, the vast stretch of Lake Balaton unfolds before you as you drive through some of its shore-side, summer resorts. Reaching Budapest, where Beethoven wrote his Appassionata, enjoy two nights in one of Eastern Europe's liveliest capitals and an optional cruise tonight on the Danube to admire the fascinating city illuminations. (B, D)

DAY 7: Budapest. Included sightseeing.
Buda Castle dominates the twin cities of Buda and Pest, linked by the broad ribbon of the Danube. Heroes' Square typifies the modern capital, while along the riverbank, as well as river boats, you will find old inns and wine cellars. The included sightseeing tour with a local guide takes in Parliament, Margaret Island, Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. (B)

DAY 8: Budapest - Bratislava - Prague.
Drive across the border to Slovakia for a visit to its capital city, Bratislava, before continuing on towards the Czech Republic. The highway will take you through Bohemia, an enchanted land of castles, spas and picket-fenced villages, before reaching the magnificent city of Prague, where you will stay for two nights. (B, D)

DAY 9: Prague. Included sightseeing.
The wealth of Gothic and Baroque architecture perhaps inspired the Czech composers of Dvorak and Smetana. The included sightseeing with a local guide will take in the National Theatre and the old Town Hall's famous Astronomical Clock. (B, D)

DAY 10: Prague - Dresden - Berlin.
More of Bohemia as you journey towards the German frontier. Today's highlight is a stop in Dresden, a magnificently restored city after its almost total destruction in World War II. In the afternoon travel north across the River Elbe to reach Berlin, where you will stay for two nights. (B)

DAY 11: Berlin. Included sightseeing.
Once the city of contrasts with its West and East side separating two different worlds, Berlin, since the wall came down, has developed into a harmonious blend of old and new, preserving its old massive buildings, such as the State Opera House and the Brandenburg Gate, its neoclassical style boulevards such as the Kurfurstendamm and the Unter den Linden, as well as creating brand new buildings in the most daring up to date architectural styles. It is now once again Germany's capital and one of the most fascinating, lively and interesting cities of Europe from a cultural point of view. See it all on the included sightseeing tour with a local guide. This afternoon you are free to explore at leisure or alternatively, to join our optional excursion. (B)

DAY 12: Berlin - Hamelin - Rhineland.
Drive past Brunswick for a stop in Hamelin to hear the story of the Pied Piper. Next the lovely scenery of the Teutoburger Forest and then head west to the Rhineland for one night. (B, D)

DAY 13: Rhineland - Channel Crossing - London.
Drive to the Channel port where your tour ends. After the short Channel crossing join the coach service back to London. (B)